Key container



Nov.'3, 1953 D. HILL 2,657,569

KEY CONTAINER Filed Oct. 26, 1950 7 INVENTOR.

3 7 DA V/D H/ L L H/s A rromvsrs Patented Nov. 3, 1953 KEY CONTAINER David Hill, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to George Hill, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application October 26, 1950, Serial No. 192,216

4 Claims.

1 My invention relates to a key container, and more particularly to one of the type which provides for selective release of a particular key without disturbing the remaining keys in such container.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved key container;

(2) To provide a novel and improved key container of the type which permits of selective release of any of a plurality of keys in such container;

(3) To provide a novel and improved key container having many desirable features of construction and which lends itself to economical manufacture. f Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is a three-dimensional view of my invention in its preferred form;

. Figure 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the device of Figure 1, depicting internal details of construction;

Figure 3 is a view of one half of the device of Figure 1, depicting the manner of holding keys therein;

' Figure 4: is a view in section, taken in the plane 4-4 of Figure 1;

' Figure 5 is a view in section, taken in the plane 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in section, taken in'the plane -E''6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the same comprises a pair of plates l and 3 of substantially rectangular form and which may be of identical construction, so designed as to be complementary when one is reversed and mounted in superposed relationship to the other.

With this in mind, each of such plates is formed with a thumb notch 5 in each of its longer edges, and in each of a pair of diagonal corners thereof, the plate is provided with a pivot post 1 for pivotally holding a key 9 to be carried in such container.

Adjacent the remaining diagonal corners of the plate, the plate is formed with integral spacing blocks H, each of which is provided with a recess I 3 so located as to receive a pivot post of the opposing plate, when two such plates are assembled in the manner previously indicated.

Between each thumb notch and a spacer block corner, the plate is formed with an edge wall 15 of height less than the space between opposing side plates to permit of the passage of a key, when such key is pivotally mounted on one of said pivot posts.

Centrally located of the plate is a spring anchoring post I! of a height comparable to that of the spacer blocks, said post being provided with a diametrical groove for the reception of a leaf spring H! which is formed with a pair of reverse bends to create arms 2! adapted to engage with their free ends, the edge walls I5. From an examination of Figure 3, it will become apparent that the function of this spring is to resiliently hold the shank end of each of a pair of keys, against one of such edge walls, when such keys are pivotally mounted on said pivot posts, and when any such key is lifted sufficiently to free it from abutment with its associated edge wall, the spring arm then functions to swing such key about its pivot post so as to expose the shank end thereof for use, and for this latter function, the width of the leaf spring must exceed that of the height of such edge wall. The adjacent thumb notch facilitates restoration of such key to its confined position Within the container.

To effect release of any particular key from its confined position within the container, I provide a resiliently hinged or flexible tab 23 in front of each of the pivot posts and in substantially the plane of the plate, such tab by reason of its construction, being depressible to the point of engaging a key disposed in line therewith and lifting the same out of engagement with the associated edge wall.

, In assembling the device, the keys are first installed in confined position on their associated plate, and two of such plates are then assembled, one superposed on the other in reverse position as indicated, so as to provide a complementary fit, and in such superposed position, the two plates are held in assembled relationship by a pair of U-shaped clips 25, each resiliently straddling an end of the assembly.

The invention lends itself to economical manufacture, in that each side plate may be molded of plastic with the pivot posts, spacer blocks, center post and edge walls all formed integrally therewith, and when so molded, the tabs will also be integrally formed by V-shaped cuts in appropriate locations in the plates, and to enhance the flexibility of such tabs, an intermediate section of each tab may be thinned down or the same may be molded with an intermediate section of reduced thickness. Preferably, in molding the plate, the portions which constitute the tabs extend somewhat above the surface of the plate to facilitate depression of the tabs into operative engagement with the keys.

The economical manufacture of the invention is further enhanced by the fact that the spring which holds the keys in position on each side plate may be formed from a single length of leaf spring material, and its assembly to the central post is a matter of utmost simplicity.

It is noted further that the use of clips facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the device and eliminates completely the use of rivets or machine screws.

It will be apparent that the invention as described in its preferred form, fulfills, all the ob jects listed therefor, and while I have described my invention in its preferred form and in considerable detail, the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I, accordingly do-not desire to be limited in my protection to such details as I have illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims;

I claim:

1. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates, each having thumb notches in opposite side edges and a pair of key pivot posts, one in each of a pair of diagonalcorners, spacer means adjacent each of the remaining corners, said spacer means serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, a pair of side edge walls, one adjacent each of said remaining corners, each of said walls being of less height than the spacing betwen plates to form a passage for a key, a pair of spring anchoring posts, one disposed centrally of each of said plates, spring means anchored to said posts and having reversely bent arms engaging with their free ends, the side edge walls of such plates, a pair of depressible tabs, one disposed in front of each of said pivot posts, and means for holding a pair of such plates in opposed assembled relationship.

2. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates, each having thumb notches in opposite side edges and a pair of key pivot posts, one in each of a pair of diagonal corners, a pair of spacer blocks, one adjacent each of the remaining corners, with each of said spacer blocks provided with a recess to receive a pivot post of the opposing side plate, said spacer blocks serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, a pair of side edge walls, one adjacent each spacer block corner of such plate, each of said walls being of less height than the spacing between plates to form a passage for a key, a pair of spring anchoring posts, one disposed centrally of each of said plates, said posts each having a spring retaining groove therein, spring means disposed in said groove and engaging the side edge walls of such plates, and a pair of resiliently hinged tabs, one disposed in front of each of said .4 pivot posts, and means for holding a pair of such plates in opposed assembled relationship.

3. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates, each having thumb notches in opposite side edges and a pair of key pivot posts, one in each of a pair of diagonal corners, a pair of integral spacer blocks, one adjacent each of the remaining corners, with each of said spacer blocks provided with a; recess to receive a pivot post of the opposing side plate, said spacer blocks serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, a pair of side edge walls, one adjacent each spacer block corner of such plate, each of said walls being of less height than the spacingbetween plates to form a passage for a key, a pair of sprin anchoring posts, one disposed centrally of each of said plates, said posts each having a diametrical spring retaining groove therein, a leaf spring disposed in said groove and having reversely bent arms engaging with their free ends; the side edge walls of suchplate, a pairof resiliently hinged tabs, one disposed in front of each of said pivot posts and in substantially the plane of said plate, and means for-holding a pair of such plates in opposed assembled relationship.

4. A keycontainer comprising a pair'of opposed plates, each having thumb notches in opposite side edges and a pair of key pivot posts, one in each of a pair of diagonal corners, a' pair of integral spacer blocks, oneadjacent each of'the remaining corners, with each of said spacer blocks provided with a recess to receive a pivot post of the opposing side plate, said: spacer blocks serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, a pair of side edge Walls, one adjacent each spacer block corner of such' plate, each of said walls being of lessheight than they spacing between plates to form a passage for a key, a pair of spring anchoring posts, each of height comparable to that of said spacer blocks, one disposed centrally of each of said. plates, said posts each having a diametrical spring retaining groove therein, a leaf spring disposed in said groove and having reversely bent arms engaging with their free ends, the side edge walls of such plate, a pair of resiliently hinged tabs, one disposed in front of each of said pivot posts and in substantially the plane of said plate, and means for holding a pair of such plates in opposed assembled relationship, said means including a pair of end clips, each of U-shape and adapted to resiliently straddle an end of such assembly.

DAVID HILL.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,903,372 Copell Apr. 4, 1933 1,974,558 Andis Sept. 25, 1934 2,029,696 Bennett Feb. 4, 1936' 2,274,820 Bills Mar. 3, 1942 2,400,221 Bennett May 14, 1946 

